Well after lurking the depths of TC and seeing the vast collection of carving/sculpting talent - I have decided to jump in the water and try my hand at carving tiki...

......I like it!

(the back story) I found some Mexican Palm logs that a guy was trying to dump and, being a newb, I said sure I'll take'm! Hauled them home and stared at them for a month or so before I got brave enough to dig in.. Keep in mind I was all over this forum seeing the outstanding collection of work/talent and was feeling pretty insecure. Anyways, I traded tools for chisels and went for it. I did these by hand, including stripping them. I have to say I am hooked. What a zen kind of experience feeling a razor sharp chisel move through the fibers of a palm log As I carved away I soon realized that these gems were rotting from the inside out! So I decided to try and save the first little guy by hollowing him out.. also entirely by hand.. I started a second log and after cutting some deep lines I actually saw, and heard, it spit! Broke out the chain saw and cut out a section from the back and hollowed out the soft stringy rotting insides. this stopped the spitting. At this point I used the back piece to carve a mask.. So please feel free to share any advice.. I'm currently working on a third tiki and would appreciate you collective wizdom

... holds the plant so he doesn't feel so empty inside

Used a torch for color..

This is the guy that lost his back... Tiki #3, still gonna finish him

I'm learning a lot both from TC and hands on... most important lesson-keep your chisels razor sharp!

woaw, the first one...can't wait to see more.
I also started making tiki recently and for sure they should put a warning on tiki central about the addiction that it creates About the mask, I liked it better before torch, but hey that's just my opinion Good luck with the third one.
Take Care

woaw, the first one...can't wait to see more.
I also started making tiki recently and for sure they should put a warning on tiki central about the addiction that it creates About the mask, I liked it better before torch, but hey that's just my opinion Good luck with the third one.
Take Care

Christophe

LOL.. thanks Christophe... I like it better that way too.. I like seeing the tools marks. But on the plus side somebody has already claimed ownership and it will have a new home tomorrow

Thanks for all the kinds comments! It is an addiction and it also saved my life. I am so stoked to be in a place with such a concentrated and diverse collection of talent and inspiration.. .. I was going to start doing this some time back but then gave up before I started after I saw the high level skill on TC...... then I ran across Crazy Al's work.... I felt like buying chisels just throw them into the ocean hahha!

Howzits!.... here are some progress pics of Tiki 3... again, I am totally open to any and ALL advice or tips you guys might want to offer.

I'm not sure if it's the Spanish palm wood or the fact that it was so old that makes it so inconsistent when carving.... or if it's just me being a newb Some areas are crazy brittle while other spots cut clean and smooth. My other frustration is that I can't go as deep as I would like too..

As you can see I made some changes from the first pic I posted. I'm still roughing it in and just starting to model it here and there. I still have a long ways to go but over all I'm digging where its heading

Just starting to remove material to define the mouth more before laying out and the starting the teeth.

This is the back section I mentioned earlier. That piece became the mask I posted.